Schadenfreude means taking pleasure in someone's misfortune, whereas freudenfreude describes the good feelings we feel when someone else succeeds, even if it doesn't directly involve us. According to Catherine Chambliss, a professor of Psychology at Ursinus College, freudenfreude is like social glue, making relationships "more intimate and enjoyable".
Try these from the experts:
In her 2012 study, Dr Chambliss examined freudenfreude and schadenfreude scores among college students, some of whom were experiencing mild depression and some who weren't. Freudenfreude scores were higher, and schadenfreude scores were lower, among those who were not depressed.
"When you're feeling down, it's natural to puncture positive news with negativity," Dr Chambliss explained - as the mildly depressed college students, however, had a harder time adopting a joy-sharing mindset.
Erika Weisz, an empathy researcher and postdoctoral fellow in psychology at Harvard University, said the feeling of freudenfreude closely resembles positive empathy - the ability to experience someone else's positive emotions.
According to similar studies, sharing in someone else's joy can also foster resilience, improve life satisfaction and help people cooperate during a conflict, but you have to work your "joy-sharing muscles".
Try these from the experts:
- Show a genuine interest in in someone else's happiness.
- Ask questions and share the joy!
- View individual success as a communal effort.
- Share credit for your successes with others.
- Try "bragitude" - their word not ours - which involves expressing gratitude when someone else' success or support leads to your own.
It is truly possible to increase your own joy, by sharing in others' joy & successes! It is a quick, easy, sincere way to improve your own quality of life. Shared happiness doubles the joy!
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